chriscatt said:
Hi SLI_Fallen, your issues are?
ChrisC
Heh, you really want to know? I'll warn you, they are lengthy, but I may have some resolution on two of them. I am trying to resove these to ensure system stability before I start to crank the clocks.
Issue#1: Viewsonic P815 monitor. This monitor supports 100hz@1280x1024. Same *EXACT* monitor drivers being used as in "old" rig (Using Radeon X800 P.E). It functions perfectly. On new box I can only select (the top refresh listed) @85hz. And I discovered that the driver being used on BOTH is actually from microsoft dated from 2001 (I think this is from a driver cab file added in sp2) and when I try to load the viewsonics (which, by the way are NOT certified, but I continue anyways) they appear to load, but upon reboot it reverts back to the microsofts (which again, I said before that 100hz is there and selectable on old rig, only up to 85 is there on the new one.
I do have a theory though that I will try today. Since this is a "side by side" upgrade, I have a KVM to swap between the two. I am wondering if the KVM is limiting the refresh since its thru the KVM that the install/drivers are "seeing" the monitor, rather than directly. I know they are just a "switch" but I want to connect the monitor direct and see if there is any difference. (And I still dont get why it keeps reverting to an older MS driver vs the viewsonic, but if I can get 100hz to work (again) I really dont care).
Issue#2 Soundblaster X-FI "extreme music": I have cambridge soundworks DT3500 (dolby) digital 5.1 speakers. They were previously hooked to an Audigy 2 with no issues. When I connect them (thru the digital DIN) to the X-FI, and then try to select my speaker configuration (from the digital menu) I only have headphones or 2 speakers as a selection. Only in the analog menu are multi-speaker surround configurations available. And of course, during speaker tests the sound is only playing thru the front speakers....
Literally moments ago, I got a reply from creative and I am speechless as to it's content. I have been given instructions on how to configure my DT3500's so they will "work" (I have yet to try it) but the functionality is so diminished as to COMPLETELY eliminate any improvement from my Audigy 2 because, you see, they tell me the X-FI is designed for ANALOG speakers!?!
I quote from my reply from Creative support: >>Lastly, please be informed that our X-Fi series is design to work with anormal analog speaker system to achieve the optimum performance from the sound card. If you are using Inspire 5.1 5700 or a digital speaker system (speaker system with decoder features), you will not be able to use the enhanced features (DTS decode, Dolby digital decode, X-Fi 24-bit Crystalizer, X-Fi CMSS 3D, 3DMIDI and EAX).<<
I find this astounding and utterly unacceptable. Digital is now and the future and it seems a step backwards. (from the audigy line) Bottom line: Better not use digital speakers with an X-FI, it cripples it's functionality..I mean, not even EAX will work! (which by the way is just fine on the Audigy 2 thank you very much.) Too late to return the X-FI. So either I use the Audigy 2 (from my old rig) or I have to buy new..analog speakers. Ridiculous.
Issue #3 My Norton Ghost (2003) boot diskette is hanging up on the PC during post (It's a USB enabled diskette so I can use my external drive for the backup) Works fine on old box. I have to do a bit more research but I believe it's the RAID drivers (or lack of them to be more specific) that this is happening on the new box. I need to get into the diskette autoexec and config.sys files too see whats going on there but I have been more concerned getting the other two issues fixed before I really need to consider backing it up. Besides, since my last post (above) I actually have upgraded ghost to V10 in hopes it will work on the new rig, and it does. (uses a CD now, no floppies, and from within windows (at least the backup) instead of a standalone boot (still needed for a restore but it's a CD as I said.)
So, really only one real issue left (the monitor refresh) perhaps some things to try there, well see. Just frosts my cookies about the X-FI though. sheesh.
note I don't have any problems, perhaps BIOS is totally sorted so very little to fix? 
Although by the looks of it other people have had loads of problems.
